Community Corner
Fall For These Autumn Festivals
Fall festivals offer hayrides, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, even a Renaissance sword fighting demonstration. And how about smashing your pumpkins after Halloween to learn about composting?
With leaves turning crimson, orange and gold, and scarecrows and pumpkins peeking out from front porches and landings, make the most of fall before the miserable weather sets in. Get friends together, or take the kids, and celebrate the season with some great fall festivals.
River Trail Nature Center Fall Festival
When: Sunday, October 16 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
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What: The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will be hosting their 38th annual Fall Festival. The festival will feature hay rides, fall color walks, storytelling, puppet shows, pumpkin painting and more. Admission is free.
Where: 3120 Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook.
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When: September 24 through October 31 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
What: Didier Pumpkin Farms will have hayrides, petting zoo, corn maze, straw maze, pony rides, sunshine crafts, moon bounce, bird exhibit, white tiger exhibit, and more. Free admission on weekends. Tickets must be bought for some activities.
Where: 16678 W Aptakisic Rd., Prairie View- Lincolnshire.
When: Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
What: Casa Italia will be hosting two days of fall activities and entertainment. Activities will include breakfast by Salerno’s, wine making presentation, ricotta making demo, farmers market, Renaissance swordfighting demonstrations, cultural presentations, free rides, an auto show and a fine art exhibit including paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and mixed media. Admission, parking and most activities are free. Italian food is available at reasonable prices.
Where: Casa Italia; 3800 Division Street, Stone Park.
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from September 19th through October 30th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
What: Kinsch Village Florist will be hosting a fest that will include a feeding zoo, two-story monster slide, children's haunted house, corn maze, game tent, haunted forest, haunted forest train rides, pumpkin decorating area and much more. General Admission is $7 for 6 months to 12 years old, $2 for 13 years and older.
Where: Kinsch Village Florist, Inc. & Garden Center; 301 W. Johnson St., Palatine.
When: 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily until the 1st weekend in December.
What: Stop by the farm and pick your own apples, raspberries, and pumpkins, try some apple cider donuts, award winning cider, fresh baked apple pie, honey, maple syrup, jams and more. Also, check out the hay wagon rides, farm animal corral, straw bale mini-maze, climbing bales, and apple launcher.
Where: 6385 Kilburn Avenue, Rockford.
When: Saturday, October 29 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
What: The fest will include trick-or-treating down Clark Street in Lincoln Park, live entertainment, a costume contest and much more. Admission is free.
Where: Clark Street in Lincoln Park, between Armitage and Diversey, Chicago.
When: Saturday, November 5 from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.
What: Recycle your pumpkins at the Pumpkin Smash and Bash by rolling them down Centennial Hill then smashing them into piles of compost. Then help clean up the newly smashed pumpkins and learn about composting. Pumpkin Smash and Bash is free but registration is required.
Where: Centennial Park; 100 S. Western Ave., Park Ridge.
When: Sunday, October 16 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
What: Families can celebrate the Jewish harvest holiday, Sukkot, and help decorate the sukkah with handmade decorations. The sukkah, a branch covered booth, also features fall fruits and vegetables, including dried corn, squash and gourds. Activities sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore Section. Admission is free but parking is $20 per car.
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden; 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe.
When: Saturday, October 22 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
What: Come enjoy the colors of fall on the 15 acre campus. Cozy up on a hayride, pick out a pumpkin for carving, learn how to make your own apple cider. A fall event for families and kids of all ages.
Where: Glenview New Church; 74 Park Drive, Glenview.
When: September 1 through October 31.
What: Have lunch in a scenic setting at the Ginkgo Grill, find your favorite scarecrow on the Scarecrow Trail, or play Trick or Trees in the Children's Garden at AutumnFest at the Morton Arboretum.
Where: Morton Arboretum; 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle.
